Maize silage (MS) has become one of the major energy components in ruminant nutrition. The maize crop is suitable for ensiling and is of high dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive value. The aim of ...this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the effect of cutting height and maize crop maturity at harvest on the chemical composition of MS and fermentation quality in a silo. With an increase in cutting height and maize crop maturity, the content of dry matter (DM) in MS increases to about 400 g DM/kg of fresh crop, after which it does not change, crude protein (CP) CP content increases or remains the same, the ash content decreases or remains the same, starch content increases, and the content of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) decreases or remains the same. The cutting height and maize crop maturity at harvest have no effect on pH value, lactic, acetic neither butyric acid but increases the amount of ethanol and decreases the ammonium nitrogen (NH3-N) in MS.
Fatty acid composition of milk has become an important trait in dairy production, but there has not been a large amount of research on milk fat composition in beef cows. The aim of this study was to ...evaluate the effects of polymorphisms in the fatty acid synthase (FASN) and acyl-CoA diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT1) gene on milk and colostrum fatty acid composition, and their direct (calf) and indirect (cow/mother) relationships with calf birth weight and weight gain over 14 days. Eight Charolais cows and eight calves were genotyped using the PCR-RFLP method. The cows’ milk and colostrum fatty acid profiles and their calves’ weight at birth and 14 day weight gain were analysed. In the colostrum, cows with DGAT1 genotype KA had a significantly higher content of C4:0 and lower C10:0, and with FASN diplotype TW/AR a tendency for higher C14:0 and C16:0 colostrum FA content. In the milk, Charolais cows with diplotype TW/AR tended to have higher C14:1, C16:0 and C16:1, but lower C18:0 content. At the same time, no associations were found between DGAT1 genotypes and the fatty acid composition of milk. There were also no significant associations found between the studied SNPs and the calf’s birth weight and weight gain over 14 days, although calves with DGAT1 KA genotype tended to have higher birth weight.
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dry corn (DC) and fermented corn (FC) supplemented to alfalfa haylage (AH) (Medicago sativa L.) on feed intake, digestibility, and nitrogen ...(N) balance in wether sheep. The study consisted of five feeding treatments incorporating AH alone and AH supplemented with 5 or 10 g of DC (DC5 and DC10, respectively) or FC (FC5 and FC10, respectively) kg-1 body weight (BW) d-1 to Suffolk wethers. The DC5 and FC5 treatments were higher in acid detergent fibre (ADF) intake (P < 0.001), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) intake (P < 0.001), and N intake (P < 0.05) compared with the DC10 and FC10 treatments. Both energy sources (DC and FC) and supplemental levels (5 and 10 g kg-1 BW d-1) increased (P < 0.05) the digestibility of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM), and the digestibility of OM in DM (D value), and decreased the digestibility of ADF (P < 0.05). The DC10 and FC10 treatments had higher D values (P < 0.05) and reduced ADF digestibility values (P < 0.05) compared with the DC5 and FC5 treatments. The FC supplemented treatments had reduced N balances compared with DC treatments (P < 0.001). It was concluded that DC was a better supplement to AH than FC in terms of NDF intake, crude protein (CP) digestibility, and N balance. The main effect of increasing the level of starch supplementation to the diet was a reduced N and fibre intake, as well as N and fibre digestibility, but an increased D value.
Yield of maize inbreds is often a limiting factor in hybrid seed production. Thus, the main aim was to evaluate the effect of plant density on leaf area index (LAI), anthesis to silking interval ...(ASI), grain yield and yield components of inbreds and their sister-lines at two locations over two growing seasons. Inbreds Bc 279 and Bc 64, and their corresponding sister-lines Bc 279026-22 and Bc 822-1064, respectively, were grown at 60,000 and 86,000 plants*ha-1. When compared to inbreds, grain yields improved for sister-lines by an average of 1188 kg*ha-1 (21%) for Bc 279026-22 and 4816 kg*ha-1 (141%) for Bc 822-1064 primarily due to more kernel rows per ear and kernels per ear row. This greater kernel number per ear and per plant was associated with larger LAI for Bc 279026-22, while Bc 822-1064 out-yielded inbred Bc 64 despite of similar LAI and ASI. Inbred Bc 64 and its sister-line Bc 822-1064 increased LAI similarly at higher plant density, but the former showed limited yield increment because of a large increase in barren plants. In contrast, inbred Bc 279 and its sister-line Bc 279026-22 responded similarly for grain yields and LAI across plant densities. A growing season × location × plant density interaction indicated various grain yield responses to plant densities under different environmental conditions. Higher plant density significantly improved grain yields for sister-lines and inbred Bc 279, but had limited advantage for inbred Bc 64; these genotype-specific responses could not be always explained by changes in LAI and ASI.
Reducing costs in livestock farming can be achieved by stockpiling. Stockpiling is managing a pasture or hay to accumulate forage produced during the growing season to be grazed at a later time. The ...objective of this study was to identify stockpile initiation dates and N fertilization rates that optimize stockpile yield and quality of semi-natural mountain grassland in Croatia. A randomized complete block design with four replications was applied. Stockpile initiation dates were 15 June, 1 July, 15 July and 1 August. Nitrogen fertilization treatments were 0, 35, or 70 kg*ha-1 applied as ammonium nitrate on the date of stockpile initiation for each treatment. In late fall before snowy period were determined dry matter yield (DM), botanical composition, crude protein (CP), neutral (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) content. Stockpile forage DM yield was generally greater from earlier stockpile initiation dates (2.91, 2.18, 2.05 and 1.44 t DM*ha-1 for 15 June, 1 July, 15 July and 1 August stockpile initiation dates, respectively; LSD at 0.05 = 0.24). Stockpile forage DM yield was the greatest with 70 kg N*ha-1 and the lowest with 0 N fertilization, averaging 1.78, 2.23 and 2.43 t DM*ha-1 (LSD at 0.05 = 0.14) for 0, 35, and 70 kg N*ha-1, respectively, when averaged across stockpile initiation dates and years. Crude protein tended to increase and neutral detergent fiber tended to decrease as stockpile initiation was later in the season. These results indicate that initiating stockpiling of seminatural mountain grassland about first half of July with 35 kg N*ha-1 optimizes stockpiled grassland in the North-West region of Croatia.
Cilj je ovoga rada prikazati primjenu stajskih gnojiva (kruti stajski gnoj (KSG), gnojovka i gnojnica) u proizvodnji krme na travnjacima. Stajska gnojiva (SG) predstavljaju vrijedan izvor organske ...tvari (OT) i biljnih hraniva u proizvodnji krme na travnjacima. S druge strane, neodgovarajuća primjena SG rezultira smanjenjem učinkovitosti iskorištenja hraniva uz negativne učinke na okoliš. Godišnja primjena 20-50 t KSG ili 28-110 m3 gnojovke ha-1 rezultira povećanjem produktivnosti travnjaka i poboljšanjem kvalitete voluminozne krme. Međutim, budući da je količina primjene SG administrativno ograničena na najviše 170 kg N ha-1 godišnje, gnojidbom stajskim gnojivima na travnjacima osigurava se manji dio hraniva, a razlika potrebna za planirani prinos, u konvencionalnom načinu proizvodnje, namiruje se pojedinačnim ili kompleksnim mineralnim gnojivima. S aspekta učinkovitosti korištenja stajskih gnojiva, glavni periodi primjene KSG tijekom vegetacije su proljeće i ljeto. Dok je kod primjene KSG izbor metode primjene ograničen, primjena gnojovke nekom od alternativnih metoda osigurava manje gubitke hraniva i veću učinkovitost iskorištenja hraniva.
The aim of this paper is to show the application of farmyard manure (FYM) and slurry in grassland forage production. Manures provide organic matter (OM) and plant nutrients to grasslands. On the other hand, inappropriate manure application decreases the efficiency of nutrient utilization with negative effects on the environment. The annual application of 20-50 t FYM or 28-110 m3 of slurry ha-1 increases grassland productivity and improves forage quality. However, since the amount of manure application is limited to a maximum of 170 kg N ha-1 per year, a smaller amount of nutrients is provided by with manure application on grassland, and the difference required for the planned yield, in the conventional agriculture, is applied with individual or complex mineral fertilizers. From the aspect of the manure efficiency the main periods of FYM application during the growing season are spring and summer. While the choice of application method is limited when applying FYM, the application of slurry using one of the alternative methods ensures lower nutrients loss and greater efficiency of nutrient utilization.
An in vivo study was conducted into the effects of partial replacement of dried ground corn grain with dried whey – as a supplement to alfalfa haylage (AH) or Italian ryegrass haylage (IRH) - on ad ...libitum intake, in vivo digestibility and N retention in wether sheep. The chemical composition of AH and IRH was roughly the same, except for the crude protein (CP) content which was much higher in AH compared with IRH. Sheep fed the AH-based diet had higher feed intake. Higher CP digestibility and higher N retention, as well as higher levels of excreted N, were shown compared IRH-based diet. The IRH-based diet increased the digestibility of chemical parameters studied, except CP and starch. The partial replacement of corn grain with dried whey reduced the intake of acid detergent fibre (ADF), improved the starch digestibility in AH and IRH-based diets, and increased the overall N intake in wethers fed the AH-based diet. In practical conditions, replacing 10% of corn grain with dried whey in a ration based on higher quality forage is a way to increase N intake in sheep. In conclusion, the partial replacement of corn grain with dried whey in a forage-based diet with higher CP content improves the nitrogen efficiency in the diet of wether sheep.
In this study, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to predict the contents of essential macro- and microelements in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) accessions of most widespread Croatian ...landraces. Total of 175 samples were used for the model development by modified partial least square (MPLS), principal component regression (PCR) and partial least square (PLS) techniques. Based on the coefficients of determination (R2), standard error of calibration (SEC) and error of prediction (SEP) the models developed were (i) nearly applicable for nitrogen (N) (0.89, 0.12 and 0.45 respectively), (ii) poor for iron (Fe), cinc (Zn), potassium oxide (K2O) and potassium (K), (iii) usable for phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5), phosphorus (P), phytic acid (PA) and manganese (Mn). The MPLS regression statistics suggested the most accurate models developed comparing with PLS and PCR. It was concluded that a wider set of common bean samples needs to be used for macro- and microelements prediction by NIRS.
U ovome je istraživanju korištena spektroskopija u bliskome infracrvenom području (NIRS) za procjenu količine esencijalnih makro- i mikroelemenata u uzorcima najčešće uzgajanih kultivara graha (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) u Republici Hrvatskoj. Ukupno 175 uzoraka graha korišteno je za razvoj kalibracije uporabom modificirane metode najmanjih kvadrata (MPLS), metode regresije osnovne komponente (PCR) i metode najmanjih kvadrata (PLS). S obzirom na koeficijent korelacije (R2), standardnu grešku kalibracije (SEC) i standardnu grešku procjene (SEP), razvijeni kalibracijski modeli su (i) gotovo primjenjivi za procjenu dušika (N) (0,89; 0,12 i 0,45), (ii) slabo primjenjivi za procjenu željeza (Fe), cinka (Zn), kalijevog oksida (K2O) i kalija (K) te (iii) upotrebljivi za fosfor pentoksid (P2O5), fosfor (P), fitinsku kiselinu (PA) i mangan (Mn). Najpouzdaniji kalibracijski modeli razvijeni su korištenjem regresijskoga modela MPLS u usporedbi s kalibracijskim modelima dobivenim korištenjem PLS-a i modelima PCR-a. Zaključeno je da je za procjenu makro- i mikroelemenata spektroskopijom u bliskome infracrvenom području (NIRS) potrebno prikupiti veći broj uzoraka graha širih varijacija istraživanih makro- i mikroelemenata.
U radu se prikazuje zastupljenost izvanučioničke nastave u prirodi s naglaskom na osnovne škole grada Zagreba. Ističu se procjene učitelja i učenika o takvom obliku nastave. Istraživanje je provedeno ...na pokušalištu Sveučilišta u Zagrebu Agronomskog fakulteta Centra za travnjaštvo, anketiranjem učenika i učitelja iz sedam osnovnih škola Grada Zagreba. U prvom dijelu rada prikazuju se rezultati anketa učitelja o preferenciji izvanučioničke nastave u prirodi tijekom jedne školske godine. Osim toga, učitelji procjenjuju koju korist učenici imaju od takve vrste nastave te s kojim se ograničenjima susreću tijekom njene provedbe. U drugom dijelu rada učenici daju svoje mišljenje o izvanučioničkoj nastavi u prirodi. Većina se učenika raduje izvanučioničkoj nastavi, a više od 70 % opredijelilo se za nastavu u prirodi. Učenici nastavu u prirodi doživljavaju kao igru čime se i postiže osnovni cilj izvanučioničke nastave, a to je savladavanje nastavnih cjelina bez opterećenja.
Fatty acids (FAs) are of utmost importance in the peripartal period for the development of the central nervous and immune systems of the newborn. The transport of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ...through the placenta is considered to be minimal in ruminants. Nevertheless, the cow's FAs are the main source of FAs for the calf during gestation. This research aimed to investigate the influence of low-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during late gestation on the FA metabolism of cows and their calves. A total of 20 Charolais cows during the last month of their gestation were included in the feeding trial and were divided into a control group (CON) and an experimental group (EPA + DHA). The latter received a supplement in the amount of 100 g/day (9.1 and 7.8 g/cow/day of EPA and DHA, respectively). Supplementation of low-dose EPA and DHA alters colostrum and milk fatty acid composition through the elevation of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) without affecting milk fat and protein concentrations and oxidative status. Plasma composition in cows was significantly altered, while the same effect was not detected in calf plasma. No significant change in mRNA expression was detected for the genes fatty acid synthase (FASN) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha (ACACA).
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